Beverage Machine Flow And Temperature Control for Consistent Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage machines are limited in their ability to accurately dispense varying quantities and temperatures of beverages, are not versatile enough to handle different types of drinks, and often result in inconsistent taste due to unreliable water flow and heating control, leading to contamination and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A machine with user-selectable options for beverage type, quantity, temperature, and concentration, featuring a dual outlet system with a diversion channel to control water flow and temperature, a flowmeter, and a control unit that dynamically regulates the pump and heating device to meet user preferences, allowing for precise control of organoleptic characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a pump is used to control water flow to the filtering container, then the quantity of water can be regulated, but the pump alone cannot guarantee correct control of the specific quantity of water for each beverage preparation
Solution Approach 1:
A flowmeter is integrated into the system to provide real-time feedback on the actual quantity of water delivered. The control unit receives signals from the flowmeter and compares the actual water quantity against the target quantity, enabling closed-loop control to achieve precise water dosing for each beverage preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces reliance on pump mechanics alone with an electronic control system that uses a flowmeter to measure water flow and a control unit to regulate the pump operation, achieving more precise control than mechanical pump regulation alone can provide.
2Quantity of substance
If level sensors are disposed in the tank to control water dispensed, then water quantity can be monitored, but precise control of water quantity for each beverage is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces level sensors in the tank with a flowmeter that measures water flow directly in the delivery line. This substitution enables precise measurement of the actual water quantity delivered to the filtering container, providing accurate control for each beverage preparation rather than just monitoring tank levels.
3Reliability
If a pre-infusion step is performed to control beverage intensity, then taste quality can be improved, but the time required for dispensing exceeds high quality certification parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts water flow rate and temperature during the brewing process based on real-time feedback from flowmeter and temperature sensors. The control unit optimizes the infusion process by varying parameters on-the-fly, achieving high-quality extraction without requiring extended pre-infusion periods, thus reducing total dispensing time while maintaining taste quality.
4Temperature
If the heating device is activated to heat water, then hot beverages can be prepared, but the period of time needed for pre-infusion causes a decrease in water heat which influences taste quality
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device operates continuously or in overlapping cycles with the water delivery process, ensuring that water maintains optimal temperature throughout the entire brewing process. The control unit coordinates heating and water flow to eliminate temperature drops during infusion, maintaining consistent taste quality without requiring long pre-infusion periods.
5Productivity
If known machines are structured to dispense only coffee-based beverages, then coffee preparation is optimized, but they are not structured to dispense tea-based beverages or other plant substances
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed with adjustable parameters including water temperature, flow rate, and infusion time that can be customized for different beverage types. The control unit allows selection of different brewing profiles suitable for coffee, tea, and other plant substances, making the machine versatile while maintaining optimized performance for each beverage type.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine features dynamically adjustable parameters that can be modified in real-time based on the selected beverage type. The control unit enables users to program different temperature profiles, flow rates, and infusion durations, allowing the same hardware to optimally prepare various beverages from coffee to tea and beyond.
6Ease of operation
If hot water passes through the filtering container to dispense only hot water, then the dispensing function is simplified, but the hot water absorbs aromas retained inside the container remaining contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides a bypass or alternative flow path that allows hot water to be dispensed without passing through the filtering container when no aromatic mixture is present. This extraction of the water flow from the filtering path eliminates aroma contamination while maintaining the simplicity of dispensing hot water alone.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the precise dispensing of desired beverage quantities and temperatures, improving taste consistency and efficiency by allowing users to customize their beverages without the need for pre-infusion steps, thus enhancing user experience and meeting high-quality standards.
Implementation Method 1
a device (21) for heating the water
Implementation Method 2
a pump (30) suitable to pick up the water from the tank and supply it to the filtering container (13)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method to prepare a beverage in a machine (10) for preparing beverages, comprising: receiving through a user interface (35) associated with a control and command unit (34) the selection of a type of beverage to be prepared selected between a beverage obtained by infusion, or hot water; disenabling the commands of said user interface (35) not related to the type of beverage selected, and enabling the commands correlated to the type of beverage selected, in order to allow the selection by the user of further specific organoleptic characteristics for the type of beverage selected; receiving and verifying the characteristics selected and conditioning the various functioning factors of said machine (10) in relation to the specific selected characteristics and the operating parameters provided for the specific selected beverage.